Virtual Ride of Puslinch Tract / Twin Ponds

Conditions

Conditions History

“Steep, twisty ups and downs through mature trees make this a fun, fast trail.”

Dogs
Unknown

Features
-none-

Overview

Puslinch Tract offers over 18 km of singletrack mountain biking trails to explore. The trails are mostly unmarked, so if you're out on your own exploring, you could ride much more than you bargained for since getting lost is an easy feat. Don't worry too much about truly getting lost, though, as the faint rumble of the 401 to the North will keep you reminded of your direction. The trail system is enclosed by Concession 32, 2, Sideroad 10, and the 401, so you can always find an outlet.

The trail system is well designed for mountain bikers but is shared with hikers and horseback riders, so beware and always give way to the horses and hikers. Most of the hikers and horseback riders will stick to the doubletrack trails - with all the tight switchbacks the horses don't fit on our trails! This trail system can be ridden exclusively on the singletrack, with only having to cross over the doubletrack trails.

The trail system is divided into two areas: The Pines and The Hardwoods. The Pines are smoother trails with fewer rocks and roots. There are still enough tight turns to navigate to keep them interesting - toss in a bunch of quick ups and downs and you have a fun section of trails. The Hardwoods' section tends to be more technical. These trails are composed of bigger rocks, roots, steeper hills, and sharp turns.

Need to Know

These trails are unmarked and there are many branches of trails that can send you in circles if you're not careful. Take along a seasoned vet, or bring along the MTB Project mobile app.

Be courteous of the other trail users and this should remain a fun mountain bike system for years to come.

Description

The Puslinch Tract / Twin Ponds trail system is accessible by two parking lots, which can be located either off Concession 32 or Concession 2. The main lot, and where this ride begins is off Concession 32.

Enter the trail system at the North end of the parking lot. This will bring you into a section of singletrack called Getting Loose, which runs under mature trees and goes around the North side of the first pond. The first couple of trails that you'll encounter are a part of The Pines section of trails. These trails (Twisted, Siesta, and Knee Wound) are loamy, hard-packed and windy. There are some great berms through the tall pines that just beg to be ridden at top speed. Finishing Siesta, you'll pass over the doubletrack, which will bring you to Knee Wound.

After Knee Wound you'll start one of The Hardwood trails, which is called Six Sisters, but has also been known as Fox Trail. Whereas The Pine trails are mostly flat, Six Sisters is definitely not. No huge climbs, but many short steep ups and downs as you twist your way through this trail. This trail leads directly to The Large Pines trail section. Once on The Large Pines trail you'll cross the doubletrack several times - continue over the doubletrack at all the opportunities and you'll continue on the right trail.

You'll stay on The Large Pines until you come to the doubletrack with no options to stay on the singletrack. Take a right at this intersection, cross over another doubletrack and then take the singletrack on your left for Logs. Logs is part of the Hardwood trails, so it is more rocky and technical. Have fun here, roll some logs for a short bit before you're back to the flow. Enjoy the less techy Riser Bar before meeting up with the final few trails, most of which fall into the Hardwood classifications.

The final Hardwood trails have steep inclines and declines with a couple of tough climbs - which is great, right? Once you finish Parabola you'll meet up with some doubletrack, hang a right and this will take you back to the parking lot.

This trail system can be very confusing, but just remember to carry the MTB Project mobile app and check your location from time to time, or bring a local for a tour. If you choose the latter, remember, you're on bevy duty!

History & Background

This multi-use area covers 107 hectares between the 401 and Concession 2 and has been under the authority of the Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) since 1999. With improvements need and low funding, two unlikely partners banded together to help save the area; a group of mountain bikers and the Waterloo-Wellington Hunt.

The Waterloo-Wellington Hunt is a group of equestrians who make use of the area for "drag hunting." As I'm sure you all know, the "drag hunt" is where fox scent is spread on a rag and subsequently dragged through the woods for hunting hounds to follow.

So, my mountain biking friends, next time you're out enjoying the Puslinch Tract, tip your helmet to a horseback rider and remember that it was this unlikely partnership that has kept this trail system alive.